Electical Safety

I have a room with 3 power points and each of those points has two plug in sockets. Sorry if I'm using the wrong terminology

The first one has a power supply for an antenna plugged into one of the outlets, and in the other is a power board that runs a large lcd tv, amp and dvd player which are all turned on.

The second point is empty.

The third one has a phone power cable in one outlet and in the other an extension cord running a laptop computer which is turned on.

I used to date an electrician once and he explained to me how the power points in a room are all run off one line from the main line or something like that.

So, if some one gets a shock from the power supply cable for the antenna, which is at the first power point, would they get a bigger shock (or bigger chance of a shock) because of the laptop on the extension cable at point 3 drawing lots of power? Would the chance of a shock be less had if the laptop were unplugged at the wall?

I really hope that makes sense. I'm in Australia so it's 240 volts

Many thanks,

Fortunate_K

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Your chances of shock are only dependent on the voltage, and resistance. If you make contact with live parts of the circuit, how much current will flow through your body depends on the conditions of your skin (wet and/or sweaty means lower resistance, thus better chance for a severe shock), and the resistance of the connection itself.
It makes no difference whatsoever what is plugged into the various receptacles on the circuit, since the voltage will remain the same regardless.

The power points in a room are usually but not necessarily fed by the same circuit with the cable daisy chained from one to another.

Still, this makes no difference as far as getting a shock from improper handling or defective equipment.

The following probably never applies to areas with 240 volt household power but may apply to areas with 120 volt power. Sometimes outlets in the same room may be powered by different circuits connected to opposite sides of an electrical service that also provides 240 volts, at the breaker panel. A person could be subjected to a shock of 240 volts if he touches two pieces of equipment, both defective, plugged into different 120 volt power points (receptacles). Now 120 volts let alone 240 is usually lethal enough.

__________________The good conscientious technician or serviceperson will carry extra oils and lubricants in case the new pump did not come with oil or the oil was accidentally spilled, so the service call can be completed without an extra visit.

A person could be subjected to a shock of 240 volts if he touches two pieces of equipment, both defective, plugged into different 120 volt power points (receptacles). Now 120 volts let alone 240 is usually lethal enough.

Now, that would require Murphy's law to happen<g>
A very unlikely, yet still possible circumstance.

Am I correct in saying that on a 240V only system, such as in Europe, the UK I think, and Australia, there is no grounded point, or is one side of the line still connected to earth?

I would think that with a 220V system, there would be more electrocutions, but maybe due to a better plug/receptacle design that is not the case.
I had always assumed that their system was not grounded. Re-thinking that, it wouldn't make much sense, would it. No grounding = no lightning protection.

I would think that with a 220V system, there would be more electrocutions, but maybe due to a better plug/receptacle design that is not the case.
I had always assumed that their system was not grounded. Re-thinking that, it wouldn't make much sense, would it. No grounding = no lightning protection.

The voltage really has no bearing on electrocutions. In the United States, more electrocutions occur at 120 V.